Final KM: TDU stage 7(?); Challenge Mallorca day 1

Get the bunting sorted, people, we have racing in Europe as the peloton heads to Mallorca for a series of four one-day races. It also seems we somehow missed a stage at the Tour Down Under… all will be explained in today’s Final Km.

What do you get if you mix a cycle rickshaw, four battle-hardened riders and Cyclingtips very own Dave Everett? You get a damn funny unofficial time trial stage of the Tour Down Under, that’s what! Just love how Nathan Haas (Dimension Data), Carter Jones (Giant-Alpecin), Koen de Kort (Giant-Alpecin) and Michael ‘call me Google’ Gogl (Tinkoff) threw themselves and the rickshaw around the corners! Check out the madness with photos on the CyclingTips site.

I love Dave’s irreverent style and he says he’s thinking of extending this format to the cobbles… just another reason to LOVE the spring classics.

Day 1, Challenge Mallorca: 174km Felanitx to Porreres

I love the Challenge Mallorca series. Four races, two for the fast men, two for those who shine on the climbs, and teams able to bring a squad of riders to mix and match for each race. All of this on roads many of the riders know, given the island’s popularity as a training base.

Day one gave us a fast-finishing bunch gallop with Lotto Soudal’s Andre Greipel taking the honours from Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon 18) and crikeyEdvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data).

First race, first win… got to love Andre and those Lotto guys. Read their thoughts here